Research on castor oil
Castor oil certainly adds hydration to skin and hair (including the lashes and brows)—which is a great thing! But when it comes to results, that’s about it. There isn’t really any scientific evidence to back up claims that it can, for example, help hair look fuller or lashes look more lush; the benefits of castor oil for lashes stop at hydration. So, for people that are looking for more multifaceted results, chances are, they’ll find castor oil disappointing.
Not only is there limited evidence to back up claims around castor oil’s benefits, but using castor oil as a hydrator can actually cause issues—particularly with your skin. For some people, the thick, oily consistency can clog pores, leading to irritation and breakouts. (This can be especially true when applying castor oil near more sensitive areas, like the eyes).
Bottom line? Castor oil isn’t a magical cure all for better, hair health, lashes, brows, and skin, but it can provide moisturizing benefits.
Castor oil vs. lashes serum: How are they different?
Now that you know what castor oil does (and doesn’t do), let’s jump into why, when evaluating lash care options, you should incorporate a lash serum into your routine—as well as what lash serum you should try.
The biggest draw of eyelash serums is that they offer multiple benefits. Do they hydrate? Yes. But they do so much more than that. With the right lash serum, you can get antioxidants, hydrators, anti-aging peptides, and nutrients that help lashes thrive.
And when you compare that to castor oil, which offers a single ingredient—and a single benefit—the choice becomes clear.
Think about it this way. What if all of your skin and beauty products only offered a single ingredient and single benefit? You would have to apply a dozen products twice a day (or even more!) to get all the same benefits you’d get from fleshing out your routine with a few powerful, multitasking products.
So, when it comes to choosing a lash treatment, you’re always going to get more bang for your buck with a lash serum.